Manufacturing Engineering & Operations Deputy – Advanced Engines Concepts

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!  

This role is part of Blue Origin Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities.

This role is part of Blue Origin Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

This role is a senior individual contributor serving as the Deputy for Strategic Operations and lead for Operations Engineering, Strategy & Planning within a new advanced hardware program at Blue Origin. The successful candidate will be the hands-on integrator who drives continuity and strategic alignment across multiple manufacturing value streams — building the master production plan, facility strategy, ramp models, automation roadmaps, and operational standards that the production system runs on. This is the connective tissue that ensures independent value streams operate as one coherent production system. The role leads cross-functional teams of manufacturing engineers, automation engineers, process specialists, and planners — driving technical direction and day-to-day priorities through expertise and influence. The role grows from integrating a shared development facility to architecting manufacturing engineering and planning across multiple standalone factories.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Owning the master production schedule that integrates all value stream schedules into a unified delivery plan synchronized to the program's product version roadmap
• Developing and maintaining the ramp plan — the synchronized hiring, equipment procurement, and commissioning timeline from development rate through full production
• Leading facility strategy and planning — site evaluation criteria, factory layout concepts, buildout phasing, shared infrastructure requirements, and inter-facility logistics
• Leading cross-functional teams of manufacturing engineers, automation engineers, and process specialists serving all value streams — setting technical direction, prioritizing work, and ensuring cross-product consistency and best-practice sharing
• Developing manufacturing engineering standards across all value streams — common work instruction formats, process specification templates, and equipment specification standards
• Driving the automation roadmap across all value streams — PLC standardization, weld automation, AM parameter development, robotic material handling, and vision systems; performing ROI analysis and technology selection trade studies
• Leading New Product Introduction (NPI) and commissioning from the technical side — producibility reviews, process flow development, equipment installation qualification (IQ), process qualification (OQ/PQ), and readiness assessments for new work centers
• Establishing operational standards — MES/ERP requirements definition and system evaluation, quality management infrastructure, and operational metrics frameworks across all value streams
• Developing CapEx business cases and capital equipment plans — cost modeling, vendor evaluation criteria, and procurement prioritization across all production lines
• Owning the continuous improvement / Lean program — value stream mapping, kaizen events, standard work, and cross-branch best-practice deployment
• Building operational metrics frameworks — KPI definitions, dashboard design, and analytical tools for OEE, first-pass yield, cost-per-unit, and on-time delivery tracking
• Serving as the technical integrator across value streams — identifying cross-branch dependencies, bottleneck risks, and optimization opportunities that no single branch can see alone
• Delivering executive reporting — operational metrics, dashboards, and status updates to the Head of Operations and program leadership

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related discipline
• 12+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, or operations planning with deep technical expertise across multiple manufacturing disciplines
• Multi-facility or multi-product-line experience — demonstrated ability to develop integrated production plans spanning multiple distinct manufacturing systems
• Strong planning and analytical capability — has personally built master production schedules, capacity models, CapEx business cases, and ramp plans (not just managed teams that built them)
• Facility strategy experience — has developed factory layouts, site evaluation criteria, or equipment installation plans for new or expanding manufacturing operations
• Manufacturing engineering depth — credible across multiple disciplines (machining, welding, AM, brazing, assembly) with the ability to evaluate process trade-offs and set technical standards
• Strong data analysis and modeling skills — proficient with Excel, Python, or similar tools for capacity modeling, cost analysis, and production planning
• Team leadership — has led cross-functional teams in a manufacturing or engineering environment, driving technical direction and priorities across organizational boundaries
• Strong written, personal, technical, and software skills (CAD, Issue Tracking, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in greenfield factory planning — personally developing factory layouts, equipment plans, and commissioning schedules for new production facilities
• Background in industrial gas turbines, aerospace, or heavy industrial manufacturing
• Experience with MES/ERP requirements definition and implementation in a manufacturing environment (SAP, Oracle, Plex, or similar)
• Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent operational excellence credential
• Experience developing automation roadmaps and business cases across a multi-line factory
• Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, or equivalent quality management systems from the manufacturing engineering side
• Experience developing CapEx programs of $50M+ including equipment specifications, vendor evaluation, and procurement strategies
• Background in production planning / MRP at the system level (not just single-line scheduling)
• Advanced degree (MS or MBA) or equivalent
• Customer focused with a proven track record to work cooperatively with teams of different skills across large geographic distances
• Strong organizational and analytical skills

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check

• Required for Certain Job Profiles:  Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation

• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing (CDL drivers only), vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.

• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

• Benefits include:  Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.

• Paid Time Off:  Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

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